Target Chasing Smart Bullets

In February, the “smart bullets” — .50-caliber projectiles equipped with optical sensors — passed their most successful round of live-fire tests to date, according to the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency, or DARPA.

In the tests, an experienced marksman “repeatedly hit moving and evading targets,” a DARPA statement said. Even a novice hit a moving target.

A ‘major breakthrough’

The system has been developed by DARPA’s Extreme Accuracy Tasked Ordnance program, known as EXACTO. “True to DARPA’s mission, EXACTO has demonstrated what was once thought impossible: the continuous guidance of a small-caliber bullet to target,” said Jerome Dunn, DARPA program manager.

“This live-fire demonstration from a standard rifle showed that EXACTO is able to hit moving and evading targets with extreme accuracy at sniper ranges unachievable with traditional rounds. Fitting EXACTO’s guidance capabilities into a small .50-caliber size is a major breakthrough,” Dunn said.

Bullets turn in midair to follow targets

Videos supplied by DARPA show the bullets making sharp turns in midair as they pursue their targets. Appears almost magical like a bullet behaving like a bee homing on the target! only difference is that the bullet is flying at an incredible velocity of hundreds of miles per hour!

DARPA says the smart bullets will also help shooters who are trying, for example, to hit targets in high winds.

The goals of the EXACTO program are giving shooters accuracy at greater distances, engaging targets sooner and enhancing the safety of American troops, DARPA said.